Natural Language Search Filtering Rules

Arcadia Enterprise Natural Language Search follows a set of rules for
extracting and combining data.

We use the World Life Expectancy dataset with dimension country
and measure population to explain the search filtering rules.

When you type in a new search statement, Natural Language Search (NLS) implements the
following search filtering rules:

No Dimension Specified

If you do not specify a dimension, NLS filters the search results using the
values of the measure, instead of aggregating it.

In the following image,
the search phrase is population over 50K; notice that the
Results window only displays the values of the
measure (population).

When you click the
(explain) icon, it opens a tooltip that explains the parameters of the result visual:
its dataset, the measures and dimensions on its shelves, filters, and sort.

Search results with values of the measure

Dimension and Aggregated Measure Specified

NLS filters the search
results by the aggregate of the measure, unless the search phrase uses keywords
that specify filtering by the value of the measure. Consider the following
scenarios:

Aggregate Function Specified Specify the dimension and the
measure using an aggregation function.

In the following image, the search phrase is country with average
population between 10000000 and 20000000 as table. Notice that
NLS filters the search results by the dimension and the aggregate
measure avg(population); both appear in the table
visual.

When you click the
(explain) icon, it opens a tooltip that explains the parameters of the result visual:
its dataset, the measures and dimensions on its shelves, filters, and sort.

Search results with specified aggregation function

Default Aggregate Function

Specify the dimension, and the
measure without mentioning the aggregation function.

In the
following image, the search phrase is country with population over
50K as table; notice that NLS filters the search results by the
default aggregation of the population field, sum. Remember that you can
specify default field aggregations in the dataset; see Changing Field Aggregation.

When you click the
(explain) icon, it opens a tooltip that explains the parameters of the result visual:
its dataset, the measures and dimensions on its shelves, filters, and sort.

Search results with default aggregation function

Dimension and Values of Measure with Keyword Specified

If you specify
a dimension and a measure using one of the following keywords:
base, simple,
unaggregated, or raw, NLS orders the
filtered results by the dimension.

In the following image, the search
phrase is country with base population over 10000000 in as table. Notice
that the result visual only shows the dimension values of
country that have the base population over
10000000; it does not show the population
itself.

When you click the
(explain) icon, it opens a tooltip that explains the parameters of the result visual:
its dataset, the measures and dimensions on its shelves, filters, and sort.